Rantzen poll bid decision ‘in days’

Broadcaster Esther Rantzen has taken to the streets of Luton to gauge public opinion on whether she should stand for Parliament.

The former That’s Life presenter and I’m A Celebrity contestant was given an overwhelmingly positive reception in the Bedfordshire town centre.

Ms Rantzen, 68, will decide in “days rather than weeks” on whether to contest Luton South, where Labour MP Margaret Moran – criticised over second home allowance claims – said last week she would stand down.

The campaigning journalist was greeted with dozens of shouts of support from passers-by in Luton’s St George’s Square and even received a proposal of marriage from one local resident.

At the end of her walkabout, Ms Rantzen, who currently lives in north London, said the extremely warm and welcoming response from the public had given her “a real feeling of motivation”.

She initially pledged to contest Luton South unless Ms Moran agreed to stand down after claiming £22,500 for treating dry rot at her home in Southampton, 100 miles from the constituency.

Ms Moran confirmed on Thursday she would not seek re-election at the next general election, complaining that the furore over her dry rot claim had damaged her health.

During her tour of the town centre, Ms Rantzen was approached by several people urging her to stand in Luton South, but encountered not a single voter voicing disapproval.

Tim Raidl, 40, an unemployed office administrator, described himself as a floating voter. He said: “She says exactly what she thinks – she listened and basically that’s what we need in an MP.

“I firmly believe her heart is in it – she’s got so much love of what she does.”